![Danube](https://cdn.newsserve.net/en/knowledge/Danube_20190123.jpg)
Slovakian capital prepares for worst as Danube water level rises
Heavy rains in the region over the past few days have dramatically increased water levels in the Danube River.
The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest south into the Black Sea. A large and historically important river, it was once a frontier of the Roman Empire. In the 21st century, it connects ten European countries, running through their territories or marking a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for 2,850 km (1,770 mi), passing through or bordering Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine. Among the many cities on the river are four national capitals: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. Its drainage basin amounts to 817,000 km² and extends into nine more countries.
Heavy rains in the region over the past few days have dramatically increased water levels in the Danube River.